firefightersNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94firefightersTue, 08 Nov 2016 02:52:07 +0000firefightershttp://ripr.org
John BenderThe Providence mayor’s office is refuting claims that a new proposed firefighter’s contract will not save the city as much as projected. A city council review of the proposed contract found a multi-million dollar discrepancy. According to a statement released by the City Council, an internal audit found the mayor’s office overestimated the savings of a new firefighter’s contract by $7 million. The savings, the internal auditor found, would add up to about $9 million. Mayor Jorge Elorza’s office announced the tentative contract agreement with the city’s firefighters in September. At the time, the city said the new agreement would save Providence about $15 million. Despite the city council’s announcement, the mayor’s office is standing by their numbers in a statement released Thursday. The tentative agreement would reducing shift staffing, as well as reduction in equipment. The city council finance committee will continue to hold hearings on the proposed contract. Providence Mayor Disputes Multimillion Dollar Discrepancy In Firefighter Contract Savingshttp://ripr.org/post/providence-mayor-disputes-multimillion-dollar-discrepancy-firefighter-contract-savings
74722 as http://ripr.orgFri, 04 Nov 2016 14:39:13 +0000Providence Mayor Disputes Multimillion Dollar Discrepancy In Firefighter Contract SavingsIan Donnis Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Local 799, the International Association of Firefighters, are locked in an increasingly bitter dispute about cutting overtime spending in the Fire Department, the latest in a string of conflicts between the union and city leaders. Q&A: The High-Profile Dispute Between Providence Firefighters And Mayor Jorge Elorzahttp://ripr.org/post/qa-high-profile-dispute-between-providence-firefighters-and-mayor-jorge-elorza
57045 as http://ripr.orgWed, 23 Sep 2015 20:30:30 +0000Ian Donnis Lawyer, commentator and former attorney general Arlene Violet joins Political Roundtable this week Political Roundtable: Violet on Fung, PawSox & Elorza's Overtime Battle with Firefightershttp://ripr.org/post/political-roundtable-violet-fung-pawsox-elorzas-overtime-battle-firefighters
54843 as http://ripr.orgFri, 07 Aug 2015 08:00:00 +0000Ian Donnis The City of Providence plans to increase firefighters' base pay by eight percent as part of the slated Sunday implementation of a different platoon structure meant to reduce overtime spending by millions of dollars a year. During a Friday afternoon news conference, Mayor Jorge Elorza said firefighters can get a more generous pay increase -- 33 percent --- if they agree to a plan to increase their average weekly hours, from 42 to 56. Effective Sunday morning, the city plans to cut the number of daily platoons from four to three. Elorza said the plan will eventually save Providence between $5 million and $7 million in annual overtime costs. Paul Doughty, the president of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 799, declined comment for now on the latest development. Elorza said the more generous offer will remain on the table until 5 p,m. Saturday. “I’ve made an offer of 33 percent increase in their salary, in return for 33 percent more hours worked," he said. "They haveElorza Details Offers to Firefighters; City Prepares to Implement Platoon Changehttp://ripr.org/post/elorza-details-offers-firefighters-city-prepares-implement-platoon-change
54589 as http://ripr.orgFri, 31 Jul 2015 21:00:52 +0000Elorza Details Offers to Firefighters; City Prepares to Implement Platoon ChangeIan Donnis The City of Providence is arguing that the Providence firefighters' union can't use arbitration to fight the looming implementation of a money-saving shift-change plan Providence Argues Firefighters Can't Use Arbitration to Fight Platoon Changehttp://ripr.org/post/providence-argues-firefighters-cant-use-arbitration-fight-platoon-change
54503 as http://ripr.orgThu, 30 Jul 2015 14:56:10 +0000Providence Argues Firefighters Can't Use Arbitration to Fight Platoon ChangeJohn BenderThe board of the Coventry Fire District must decide what happens now that residents have voted to dissolve the district. The board meets Monday to discuss the options. The cash strapped Coventry Fire District is set to run out of money in the coming weeks. Voters rejected a tax increase to raise the $600,000 needed to keep the district afloat. Board Chairman Frank Palin says now the question is how to shut down the district. Palin hopes to get some money from town officials, to smooth out the process, otherwise he warns the district will close abruptly. According to Palin the best solution would be a single fire department for the town. The general assembly must approve the dissolution. Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org Coventry Fire District Board Meets Following Vote To Dissolvehttp://ripr.org/post/coventry-fire-district-board-meets-following-vote-dissolve
52698 as http://ripr.orgMon, 22 Jun 2015 12:33:01 +0000Coventry Fire District Board Meets Following Vote To DissolveIan Donnis Thanks for stopping by. It's been a long week, so let's get rolling before I fall asleep at my standing desk. Your tips and thoughts remain welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org, and I invite your attention on the twitters. Here we go. 1. Tuesday was quite the day for Governor Gina Raimondo. Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter (unsurprisingly) signed off on the pension settlement, the House Finance Committee approved a budget with Raimondo's top priorities intact, and just for fun, the governor claimed collegiate hockey bragging rights (PC Friars over BU Terriers) during lunch at Angelo's with her Massachusetts counterpart, Charlie Baker. The budget caps a very successful first five months in office for Raimondo. (Yes, the rollout of the governor's since-stalled truck-toll plan didn't seem ready for prime time.) Yet the $8.7 billion budget scheduled for a House vote Tuesday includes three inter-connected strands of Raimondo's plan to improve Rhode Island's economy: 1) reduce costsTGIF: 20 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics & Mediahttp://ripr.org/post/tgif-20-things-know-about-rhode-island-politics-media-6
52251 as http://ripr.orgFri, 12 Jun 2015 21:18:13 +0000Ian Donnis In a sharp defeat for fire unions, two bills that would strengthen their hand in dealing with cities and towns on overtime spending are dead in the current legislative session, lawmakers and a top fire union official say. Legislative committee votes on the two high-profile firefighter overtime bills were canceled Thursday, and neither of the bills is expected to get a vote before lawmakers conclude the session. House Majority Whip Jay Edwards (D-Tiverton) said there are sufficient votes in the House to pass his overtime bill, but,"I don't think it's ready at this moment." Edwards said with time running short, he doesn't expect a vote on the measure before the legislative session ends. Meanwhile, the sponsor of the other OT bill, Senator Frank Lombard (D-Cranston), said he's pulling the bill and instead backing a study of municipal police and fire overtime, scheduling and staffing. Paul Doughty, president of Local 799, of the International Association of Firefighters, limited his wrathIn Defeat for Fire Unions, OT Bills Dead at the Statehousehttp://ripr.org/post/defeat-fire-unions-ot-bills-dead-statehouse
52225 as http://ripr.orgThu, 11 Jun 2015 22:40:47 +0000In Defeat for Fire Unions, OT Bills Dead at the StatehouseIan Donnis Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza on Monday made an urgent plea for lawmakers to reject a bill that would create a 42-hour workweek for firefighters, saying it would drive up overtime costs for cities and towns across Rhode Island. But the head of the city firefighters' union disputes the likely impact, and he blames Elorza for causing the standoff over the legislation. During a City Hall news conference, Elorza said, "If this [overtime bill] passes, it will be absolutely crippling and devastating for municipalities throughout the state, and it would force us to look at raising taxes. Taxes are already too high. We have a business culture, an environment, that's not very friendly to business. Providence already has one of the highest tax rates for commercial properties in the country. We cannot afford to raise taxes, because after a certain point it's this death spiral that we fall into." Elorza said the OT bill would remove the incentive for firefighters to negotiate reduced overtimeElorza: OT Bill Would Devastate Cities & Towns; Firefighters Disagree, Fault Elorzahttp://ripr.org/post/elorza-ot-bill-would-devastate-cities-towns-firefighters-disagree-fault-elorza
52026 as http://ripr.orgMon, 08 Jun 2015 17:10:45 +0000Elorza: OT Bill Would Devastate Cities & Towns; Firefighters Disagree, Fault ElorzaIan Donnis Lieutenant Governor Daniel McKee joins Political Roundtable this week to discuss the battle between municipalities and fire unions over platoon structures; the formal launch of Lincoln Chafee's presidential campaign; and the outlook for Governor Raimondo's initiative to pay for infrastructure improvements through new tolls on trucks. Political Roundtable: McKee on Chafee, Tolls for Trucks & Fire Department Staffinghttp://ripr.org/post/political-roundtable-mckee-chafee-tolls-trucks-fire-department-staffing
51876 as http://ripr.orgFri, 05 Jun 2015 08:00:00 +0000John BenderMunicipal officials from around the state are opposing legislation that would make fire department staffing subject to collective bargaining. They say the bill effectively eliminates their power to control the budget. Mayors and town managers say they should have control over schedules for firefighters, to cut down the cost of overtime. Legislation now pending at the statehouse would require collective bargaining for schedule changes. Speaking at the statehouse, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza says overtime payment is a pervasive problem in city finances, and leaders need the flexibility to change shifts without firefighters’ input. "This callback and overtime system is costing the city of Providence between 7.5 million and over 11 million dollars per year," said Elorza. Elorza already announced plans to change shifts. Currently firefighters in the city work on a four-shift structure. Elorza said that can cause undue amounts of overtime because four-shifts require fewer firefighters onMunicipal Leaders Voice Opposition To Firefighter Shift Billhttp://ripr.org/post/municipal-leaders-voice-opposition-firefighter-shift-bill
51764 as http://ripr.orgTue, 02 Jun 2015 19:15:02 +0000Municipal Leaders Voice Opposition To Firefighter Shift BillJohn BenderThe Central Coventry Fire district’s union says it’s still willing to negotiate even though the district has filed for bankruptcy. The governor’s office announced Tuesday a chapter 9 bankruptcy after months of receivership. Head of the firefighters’ union David Gorman says the bankruptcy will hurt the town of Coventry. “I still maintain that the governor’s bankruptcy plan will jeopardize public safety even further than we’re at today. We’re down just 31 firefighters from 52,” said Gorman. He added that the firefighters have also downsized from five stations to two. Gorman said the union and state had only been working on negotiations for about four months. “The state took over in May, and the state did not reach out to us to negotiate until, sometime in mid-to-late September,” said Gorman. The governor’s office says the fire district has become too expensive for Coventry taxpayers to maintain. The district is more than ten million dollars in the red according to the town manager. It’sCentral Coventry Firefighters Still Willing To Negotiate As District Heads For Bankruptcyhttp://ripr.org/post/central-coventry-firefighters-still-willing-negotiate-district-heads-bankruptcy
44211 as http://ripr.orgThu, 25 Dec 2014 13:31:20 +0000Central Coventry Firefighters Still Willing To Negotiate As District Heads For BankruptcyJohn BenderThe Central Coventry firefighters union says it was surprised to learn that filing for bankruptcy was on the table. The union’s president said he thought cost cutting negotiations were moving forward. There’s been little movement on the Central Coventry Fire District’s expected path towards bankruptcy since it was first reported last week, by channel 12. The union has been in talks with a state receiver for the past several months. The fire district is more than 3 million dollars in debt according to union president David Gorman. But Gorman said the union was ready to make concessions. “Our last negotiation was October 21st. When we walked away from the table they said we’ll be in touch -- great proposal. We’ll take a look at them, and we find out the receiver decided to threaten to file for bankruptcy." Gorman said the union would still be willing to negotiate. He has yet to schedule another meeting with the receiver. Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, weCoventry Firefighters Union Willing To Negotiate, Surprised By Bankruptcy Announcementhttp://ripr.org/post/coventry-firefighters-union-willing-negotiate-surprised-bankruptcy-announcement
42462 as http://ripr.orgTue, 18 Nov 2014 20:19:27 +0000Coventry Firefighters Union Willing To Negotiate, Surprised By Bankruptcy AnnouncementIan Donnis Two days after he announced his gubernatorial campaign, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras collected the endorsement on Wednesday of the Rhode Island State Association of Fire Fighters outside a Cranston fire house. The move wasn't surprising, considering how unionized firefighters have been among the sharpest critics of the pension overhaul championed in 2011 by Taveras' expected Democratic rival, state Treasurer Gina Raimondo. The association's president, Paul Reed, nonetheless called Taveras and his leadership style a better fit for firefighters and taxpayers in general. Reed invoked both improvements in Providence's budget outlook and negotiated cuts to the city's pension plan led by Taveras. "If you look at the Providence pension, which was severely underfunded and I believe cutting into their principal, he met with groups that were involved in it, the local union down there, the retirees," Reed said, "and he negotiated a settlement that certainly seemed much more beneficial than aRI State Association of Fire Fighters Endorses Taveras for Governorhttp://ripr.org/post/ri-state-association-fire-fighters-endorses-taveras-governor
24013 as http://ripr.orgWed, 30 Oct 2013 17:48:32 +0000RI State Association of Fire Fighters Endorses Taveras for GovernorKristin GourlayA spokeswoman for Memorial Hospital said that three first responders were treated there for heat exhaustion after battling a five-alarm fire at a chemical company in Central Falls. Dyana Koelsch said none of those first responders had been admitted to the hospital. Temperatures crested 90 degrees today, adding to dangerous conditions for firefighters and rescue workers. The fire started today in an old mill building, most likely during a mixing process that involved toxic chemicals. Firefighters from several communities worked to extinguish the fire. Hazmat crews, including a unit from T.F. Green Airport, were called to the scene. And medical teams from Memorial Hospital were on standby on site as well as at the hospital. Koelsch said Memorial’s triage unit had since been given the “all clear” and was no longer expecting mass casualties. Firefighters Battle Heat, Chemical Blaze in Central Fallshttp://ripr.org/post/firefighters-battle-heat-chemical-blaze-central-falls
17400 as http://ripr.orgMon, 24 Jun 2013 21:43:39 +0000Firefighters Battle Heat, Chemical Blaze in Central FallsCatherine Welch(PROVIDENCE, RI) Providence firefighters vote Wednesday on a revised deal with the city. Paul Doughty, president of the city’s firefighters union, says members are voting on a couple of changes, but the most important one centers on how well their pension is funded. He says right now the pension is about 30 percent funded. Firefighters will vote on a provision requiring the city to pay at least 95 percent of its yearly contribution until the pension is 80 percent funded.“We understand that some years the city might need some flexibility, but we are also cognizant of this fact of the funding amount is the most significant reason why the fund got in such bad shape. So, it was a very high priority of ours but in the spirit of compromise it gets us to the same point.” Doughty says in return, cost of living adjustments will be suspended for ten years. He expects the vote on the revised deal to split along the same margin as it did during the first vote … which was 69 to 31 percent.Do youFirefighters vote on revised dealhttp://ripr.org/post/firefighters-vote-revised-deal
4672 as http://ripr.orgWed, 02 Jan 2013 16:20:45 +0000Firefighters vote on revised deal